Conveyer



May 30, 1933. M MELNlCK 1,911,961

CONVEYER Filed Aug. 9, 1930 fnf-7411 i f l ATTORNEYS IMMWII.

Patented May 3G, 1933 reussi MYER MELNICK, OF BRONX, NEW YORK GONVEYEB Application led ugustB, 1930. Serial No. 474,181.

This invention relates to conveyers, and is particularly concerned with conveyer belts and conveyer systems for the conveyance of sheet material, such as paper or the like.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a novel, simple and improved elevating conveyer adapted to firmly frictionally grip relatively fragile material and transport it. Y

Another object is to provide an elevating conveyer structure, self accommodating for variations in the thickness of the sheet material to be conveyed.

Another object is to provide a conveyer mechanism of simple, rugged, durable construction well suited to meet the requirements of economical manufacture and capable of ready repair in case of breakage or wear of the parts.

Vhile the invention is broadly applicable, a preferred embodiment thereof is designed for the conveyance, particularly the elevating, of strip material such as flat or folded newspapers, the system includes one or more pairs of conveyer belts having parallel runs arranged for simultaneous vertical or horizontal movement, the belts including` articulated traction blocks which are resiliently urged toward each other to grip the material and yield with suflicientfreedom to automatically compensate for variations in the thickness thereof.

The preferred belt structure comprises a chain base of conventional form to certain links of which gripper blocks having yielding gripper faces are secured by a single securing device readily accessible so that the grippers may be conveniently removed or replaced.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several ,features of the invention,

Fig. l is a diagrammatical illustration of the system of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing a preferred embodiment of the conveyer belt.-

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken Von the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. y

Fig. 4 is a similar section taken on the staggered line 4.-4 of Fig. 2,`and

` Fig. 5 is a grippers with its gripping element thrust inwardly against the tension of itsspring.

Fig'. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a slight modification.

By referring to the diagrammatic illusside elevation of one of the tration of the system shown in Fig. l, it will be Aseen that any suitable number of pairs of cooperating conveyer belts A and B are provided, both of which are formed in accordance with the structure shown in Figs. 2 to 5. The belts of a pair include cooperating vertical' runs S preferably guided in suitable rails R. Each belt beyond` the ends of its rails is driven by a driving sprocket s1, tracks around an idle sprocket s2 and is tensioned by a tensioning sprocket s3, these sprockets being shown in a purely diagrammatic fashion. They vertically moving,

guided, operating run of the belt B is longitudinally offset withv respect to thecor'responding run belt A" and material such, for

instance, as partially folded newspapers is supplied between the belts from a horizontal conveyer C. This material is picked up by the lower end of the conveyer A between the coacting sections S of the belts which carry it to a higher level. The eX- tended uper portion of the conveyer B provides for directing the material M onto an upper horizontal conveyer D located, for instance, in the floor above Vconveyer C.

By referring to Figs. 2 to 5, it will be seen that each belt comprises a chain base formed of major links 10, coupled by intermediate connecting links 11 through the medium of pivot pins 12, by which construction aflexible belt chain is provided which may be modified to be of a roller bearing chain type, if desired. Mounted on the chain at suitable intervals, so that'they laterally abut in a straight run of the chain, are gripper members. These members are preferably secured to the intermediate links l1 by headed securing screws 13 passing'through the links, the heads 14; being countersunk and fed in the inner face of the chain to be easily available for engagement and disengagement by a screw driver or the like. The grippers comprise blocks substantially U shaped in cross section and including an intermediate base portion 15, which is enlarged as at 16, and internally threaded to receive the bolt 13 therethrough. The enlargement 16 provides for the slight spacing of the intermediate portion 15 with respect to the outer face of the chain to facilitate movement of the gripper blocks, as the chain passes' over its supporting sprocket wheels.

From the base 15 side' plates 17 extend, each plate having a pair. of parallel elongated apertures 18, which receive therein cross pins 19 carried by lmovable gripper or traction bars l20. The outer faces'of the bars are ribbed Orotherwise shaped to provide frictional surfaces 21. TheA bars 20'aije urged outwardly from the base, 15 by coiled expansion springs 22, the inner ends of which are preferably seated within recesses 23 in the` central portions of the bases v15. Outward movement of the bars fiom be tween the plates 17 is prevented by engagement of the pins 19 with the outer terminal ends of the slots 18. The bar is free to move inwardly against the tension of the spring` 22 as guided by the pins. The structure will be seen to'provide for bodily and direct inward movement, and due to the excess width ofthe slots, also lfor pivotal or rocking. movement of the, blocks `between the Platesi ln the operation, of the device, it will be seen that the clearance provided between the base 15 and the major links permits, the blocks to pass around the sprockets 8.1, s2

4and 83., as shown in Fig. l, without interference therebetween. lThe barswhen out. of

contact with the material will be urged by the springs 22 totlieir extendedposition, as shown in Figs. i2, 3, and 4, Material M is picked up by the lower end of the belt A and ismoved therewith between cooperating sectionsS of the belts A and B. Vhen the bars of the belt A come into cooperative relation with the bars of the belt B, the elements 20 are moved inwardly against the tension of the spring 22 and each pair of blocks vcoopeiates to frictionally grip the material, rails. R acting as reactance meinbersto provide afirm base for the working Arims of the conveyer.

It will be seen that the yielding gripper barsautomatically compensate for the various thicknesses of material and permit pivotal movement of the elements `when tliev first come in cooperative relation withlthey blocks of theopposite chain.

It willbe understoodithat the invention4 notI confined to the direct parallel relation,

is ofthe blocks ofthe variouschains, as yshown in Fig. 1. In some instances, it may be Fig. 6 shows` a slight modilication utiliz- 75 ing guides R similar to guides R except that they are considerably deeper, actually embracing the gripper blocks 17 and positively limiting any tendency to lateral movenient or twisting of such blocks.

It will' thus be. seeiiftliat there is herewith described apparatus in which the several 4features Vof this invention are embodied, and

which apparatus in its action attains various objects of the invention and is suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the the above construct-ion, and many apparently 5.*

well

widely` different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter container in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings@ -shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described' my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l" A' conveyer belt. including a exibleiioo chainA base, a plurality of U-shaped traction blocks secured to said base, each block having parallel sides and being open on one face, anda traction bar inV posedbetween said sides and by and face.

2. A conveyer. belt including a flexible being exposed through said open base, U-shaped blocks secured to the basen-r'. each of saidv blocks being open on one face, 1

andl aY traction barv in each block disposed between the sides thereof,.said blocks and said bars having engaging means for guiding andretaining the bars, and said blocks-.---`

4. A\ conveyer belt including a flexible 125 chain base, U-.shaped blocks carriedby said base, each Vblock having parallel. sidesand being open onone lface,traction bars in. the blocks between said sides, said bars and saidI blocks having guiding and retaining means 13G each block disa guided there- Vcontaining springs urging said bars outand a traction bar in eachblock for the bars and resilient means in the blocks and housed thereby vfor engaging the bars and urging them outward therefrom to cause one face of the bars to project through the open faces of the blocks.

5. A conveyer comprising a belt made up of major links and relatively smaller connecting links, traction blocks and means for pivotally attaching said blocks to the connecting links at their mid points only, the ends of said blocks being disposed adjacent the ends of said major links.

6. A conveyer comprising a belt including a flexible chain base, traction blocks carried by the base, and means for pivotally attaching said blocks to the base at their mid points ing a yieldable traction bar projecting therefrom to provide a gripping surface.

7. A conveyer belt comprisin a flexible chain base made up of major lin s and relaatively smaller connecting links, traction blocks carried by the base, means or attaching said blocks to the connecting links at the mid points only of said blocks, and a traction bar yieldably carried by each block and projecting therefrom to afford a gripping surface.

8. A conveyer system including a pair of belts having upward extending cooperating parallel runs and rails having channels along each of said parallel runs, said rails presenting their channels to each other, the

runs of said belt lying between the rails and in said channels to be guided thereby.

9. A conveyer according to claim 8 wherein both the runs and the rails overlap at their ends.

10. A conveyer comprising a belt made up of major links and connecting links and traction blocks attached at their mid points only to the connecting links between the major links of said belt.

11. A conveyer comprising a belt containing links and traction blocks attached to said links, said blocks having sides separated by a recess opening through one face of the block, a bar in said recesses having pin-and-slot engagement with said sides and means in the block forcing the bars to project beyond the blocks alongone edge.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 8th day of August, A. D. 1930.

MYER MELNIOK.

only, each of said blocks carry-V 

